Jahns Valley Creek, Waumandee Creek Watershed (BT06)
Jahns Valley Creek, Waumandee Creek Watershed (BT06)
Jahns Valley Creek (1810800)
7.71 Miles
0 - 7.71
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
Poor
 
This river is impaired
Degraded Habitat
Sediment/Total Suspended Solids
 
Buffalo
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Class III Trout
Streams capable of supporting a seasonal coldwater sport fishery and which may be managed as coldwater streams.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Jahns Valley Creek is an eight-mile creek that flows the length of the Jahns Valley Subwatershed; one of the smaller subwatersheds in the Waumandee Creek Watershed. Downstream sections of the creek have been widened and channelized. Pasture borders the majority of the stream with livestock permitted access to the creek, resulting in trampled stream banks in the downstream portion of Jahns Valley Creek.

Grazed woodlot and pasture contribute the majority of sediment to the creek. Sand and silt creek bottom, poor shading, and elevated water temperatures yield a poor fish habitat. Jahns Valley Creek supports a warm water forage fishery, with potential to support a Class III trout fishery. A fish survey conducted in 2001 found 7 brown trout out of 25 fish total. Speculation is that the brown trout found in the creek were stocked.

Date  2005

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Jahns Valley Creek, Waumandee Creek Watershed (BT06) Fish and Aquatic LifeJahns Valley Creek, Waumandee Creek Watershed (BT06) RecreationJahns Valley Creek, Waumandee Creek Watershed (BT06) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

On 2006 303d list, TMDL approved 2005. Jahns Valley Creek is an eight-mile creek that flows the length of the Jahns Valley Subwatershed; one of the smaller subwatersheds in the Waumandee Creek Watershed. Downstream sections of the creek have been widened and channelized. Pasture borders the majority of the stream with livestock permitted access to the creek, resulting in trampled stream banks in the downstream portion of Jahns Valley Creek.

Grazed woodlot and pasture contribute the majority of sediment to the creek. Sand and silt creek bottom, poor shading, and elevated water temperatures yield a poor fish habitat1. Jahns Valley Creek supports a warm water forage fishery, with potential to support a Class III trout fishery. A fish survey conducted in 2001 found 7 brown trout out of 25 fish total. Speculation is that the brown trout found in the creek were stocked.

Date  2005

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Condition

Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.

Reports

Recommendations

TMDL (USEPA) Approved
TMDL for Sediment Impaired Streams in the Waumandee Creek Watershed - Jahns Valley Creek. This TMDL project is designed to restore water resource substrate, which In most cases, the gravel substrate is extensively covered by sand, silt, and soft organic matter preventing a suitable habitat for fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Filling-in of pools reduces the amount of available cover for juvenile and adult fish. Sedimentation of riffle areas reduces the reproductive success of fish by reducing the exposed gravel substrate necessary for appropriate spawning conditions. Sedimentation also affects macroinvertebrate biomass (fish food source) which tends to be lower in areas with predominantly sand substrate than a stream substrate with a mix of gravel, rubble, and sand.

Management Plans

Sediment reduction from watershed sources, continued monitoring, and ongoing restoration and management of trout reproduction are the primary management goals for this water.

Date  2005

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Monitoring

Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.

Grants and Management Projects

Monitoring Projects

Monitoring Studies

Fish and stream surveys were done in 1989 and the fall of 2001. The 2001 survey found mostly forage species with a few stocked brown trout. A coldwater IBI score of 10 (poor) was found in 2001. An HBI score of 4.31 (very good) was found in 1990. Fish Management completed a survey in the mid to upper stream reach in 2001. No trout were found and the fish community was represented by three species including Johnny darter, creek chub and brook stickleback. SWIMs ID = 10009571 Fish Management completed a survey near the mouth at STH 88 in 2006. No trout were found and the fish community was represented by four forage species. SWIMs ID = 10010319 Date1/31/2008

Date  2005

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Watershed Characteristics

Unnamed is located in the Waumandee Creek watershed which is 221.97 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (49%), agricultural (24.60%) and a mix of grassland (13.70%) and other uses (12.60%). This watershed has 508.29 stream miles, 3,011.30 lake acres and 8,253.68 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available for runoff impacts on lakes and Medium for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Medium. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.This water is ranked High Stream for individual Rivers based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.

Natural Community

Jahns Valley Creek is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Cold Headwater, Coldwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Headwaters are small, usually perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon (<10 per 100 m), transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are abundant to common, mainstem species are common to absent, and river species are absent.